**REPLACES PREVIOUS NYET370 HIGHER RES IMAGE** In this photo released by ABC shows a scene from the season premiere episode, of "Lost" title "The Beginning of the End," feeling that their rescue is close at hand, the survivors don't know whether to believe Charlie's final message that the people claiming to liberate them are not who they seem to be. (AP Photo/Mario Perez,ABC)
Ran on: 01-30-2008
Season 4 of ABC's &quo;Lost&quo; will not disappoint avid fans, but ABC is trying to bring in new viewers by offering &quo;catch-up&quo; screenings of the Season 3 finale and a recap show of &quo;Lost&quo; stories and characters from the past three seasons. Season 4 is shaping up to be as fast-paced as the second half of Season 3.

Photo: MARIO PEREZ

**REPLACES PREVIOUS NYET370 HIGHER RES IMAGE** In this photo...

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**HIGHER RES IMAGE REPLACES PREVIOUS NYET371** In this photo released by ABC shows a scene from the season premiere episode, of "Lost" title "The Beginning of the End," feeling that their rescue is close at hand, the survivors don't know whether to believe Charlie's final message that the people claiming to liberate them are not who they seem to be. (AP Photo/Mario Perez,ABC)

At first, ABC said it wasn't going to send out screeners of the Season 4 premiere of "Lost." Too many spoilers, the network said. Can't trust the critics.

Then, over the weekend, ABC sent an e-mail to critics saying, yes, they could watch the first two episodes online. A DVD appeared on Monday.

Three words for Thursday's first episode: Oh. My. God.

ABC kindly sent the second episode as well. Three more words: Oh. My. God.

For those of you who haven't invested in the first three seasons of "Lost," it's not too late. Tonight at 9, ABC is going to air the two-hour Season 3 finale, complete with "onscreen facts" dominating the bottom third of your screen, which will set the stage for what is happening and which elements are important.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, ABC will air a one-hour table-setter called "Lost: Past, Present & Future," which should bring everyone up to speed before the kickoff to Season 4.

Let's be honest here. Season 1 was incredible. It mixed action with mythology to create a wonderfully intriguing drama. The fictional Oceanic Flight 815 veered off course, exploded in midair and crashed. There were survivors on a strange island.

They were not alone.

There is a theory of complex, mythological or science fiction-oriented television series that centers on a viewer's willingness to "opt in." The idea is that you start watching a series, something out of the ordinary happens, and you have to make a decision on whether to continue watching. On Thursday night, ABC will premiere a midseason drama called "Eli Stone," in which a lawyer in San Francisco suddenly starts hearing George Michael. Then he sees George Michael - in his living room.

That's your "opt in" moment. Are you going to see where it goes or turn the channel? Examples like this abound, but in the original "Lost" pilot, the prime example comes when, stranded on a tropical island with all kinds of craziness afoot, a few of the castaways (including one with a gun) hear rustling in the leafy forest. And then loud rumbling. Something is coming. And fast. But what is it? Closer it comes, getting louder all the way. Viewers are riveted and then out of the forest comes ... a polar bear.

On a tropical island. Are you in? Many people said yes, but the two-part pilot then ratcheted up the bet. Something large and predatory - let's call it the Big Bad - was roaring and shaking trees as it moved. It seemed very scary - and very hungry. It was downright Jurassic. People were killed by it - but you never really saw what it was.

Again - an "opt in" moment. Some viewers said no. They turned the channel.

But those who stayed were treated to a very complex dramatic series that deftly used clues, red herrings, flashbacks and peculiarly intertwined arcs to seriously muddy up the storytelling. "Lost" brilliantly used the Internet to tap into the geek squad - people posting theories on Wikipedia detailing what it all meant. You could either immerse yourself in that culture of secrets or merely do your best each week to decipher where it was all going and what was happening to each member of the island as they battled mystical elements of the island itself and, as we learned, a group called "The Others," who were apparently already on the island before the crash.

Season 1 was thrilling and unique.

Unfortunately, Season 2 was one extended, mostly unsatisfying foray into deeper mythology with very little payoff. Some viewers - not getting what they wanted in 22 hours - gave up.

Season 3 started much the same, and there was an enormous amount of grumbling, as flashback after flashback on "Lost" illuminated each character's past but didn't really advance the plot much. Worse, an already bloated ensemble cast was fattened with more story lines about "The Others." Viewers continued to bail.

But then an interesting thing happened (actually, it happened weeks earlier but didn't materialize onscreen until midseason). The writers heeded the complaints. They sped up the storytelling, quickening the pulse, answering questions and deftly expanding the conceit. The result was that the last half of "Lost" in Season 3 was one of television's great thrill rides.

Season 4 rockets out of the gate on Thursday with much of that enthusiasm intact. The problem is, with a show like "Lost," it's really difficult to say anything about what's happening without encroaching on spoiler territory. Maybe ABC was right, initially, in withholding the DVDs. The network even gave critics a list of things they couldn't talk about.

It's a long list. For example: "Any details about (character X's) flash forward, or that (character X) even has a flash forward."

It kind of handcuffs critics. But it's not a bad policy to adhere to. Television doesn't have a surplus of joy for viewers. Why ruin what's there by telling people what happens? Make it special for them - the thrill of discovery and shock.

And there's plenty to shock, that's for sure. The first two episodes are roller coasters of fast action and revelation. It's good to see. It means "Lost" continues to be back on track. And yet the idea that hints can be given about what to expect - without spoiling anyone's fun - is almost too hard to pass up. Viewers are enduring a strike. "Lost" fans have waited a long time for these episodes. So, without ruining anything too shocking or twist-worthy, here are some hints to get your enthusiasm stoked for Season 4.

-- There's a car chase.

-- There's a flash forward. And a few flashbacks.

-- Daniels from "The Wire" shows up.

-- Punches are thrown. Triggers are pulled. Shots are fired.

-- Someone sees dead people.

-- A prophetic number is revealed: single digits.

-- There are whispers. There are tears.

-- Two reasonable people disagree - with apparently devastating consequences.